I'm seeing more and more cars with brake lights that blink about 3 times whenever the driver presses the brakes. I hope this isn't going to be a permanent feature of the automotive landscape. It feels like it's signaling a panic stopping condition where no such emergency exists.
This is a popular aftermarket mod for motorcycles. It's supposed to draw more attention that the rider is applying the brakes. I've seen emergency vehicles (ambulances and fire engines) using this tech as well.
It definitely works well. It'd be nice if it only activated at a certain threshold (similar to how some cars will activate the blinkers during a panic stop)
Quote from: CaminoRacer on December 15, 2017, 04:45:55 PM
It'd be nice if it only activated at a certain threshold (similar to how some cars will activate the blinkers during a panic stop)
Right, I think that makes sense. But the Odyssey in front of me was blink-blink-blinking constantly during low speed stop and go.
It might be effective at catching attention for now, but oblivious drivers will learn to ignore it, too.
Sounds annoying, I've yet to see this on the roads. But hey, it gets your attention, so it must be the right thing to do!
Quote from: Laconian on December 15, 2017, 03:29:55 PM
I'm seeing more and more cars with brake lights that blink about 3 times whenever the driver presses the brakes. I hope this isn't going to be a permanent feature of the automotive landscape. It feels like it's signaling a panic stopping condition where no such emergency exists.
I see it on Hyundai's and it annoys me a ton, especially when people just keep hitting the brakes.
Seen it.
It's cancer.
Almost as bad as GMs that turn on the reverse lights when they aren't in reverse.
I've seen them - they strobe too slow to be signify an emergency stop, it just looks like the driver is indecisive about applying the brakes.
The previous owner installed a brake strobe thing on my V-Strom. When I apply the brakes it goes 2 second solid brake light - 2 sec very fast running light/brake light strobe - back to a solid brake light until I let off the brakes. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet
When we reach Total Autonomous, there won't be brake lights.
I wish BMW's 2 stage brake lights would become common place... Basically you get a set of lights for stopping and an extra set for "oh sh!t"
Quote from: r0tor on December 19, 2017, 05:23:58 AM
I wish BMW's 2 stage brake lights would become common place... Basically you get a set of lights for stopping and an extra set for "oh sh!t"
I've thought it would sort of cool to have brake lights as a set of LEDs on which more and more of the little bulbs would turn on the harder the pedal is pressed.
Quote from: ifcar on December 19, 2017, 06:02:21 AM
I've thought it would sort of cool to have brake lights as a set of LEDs on which more and more of the little bulbs would turn on the harder the pedal is pressed.
That would be a good idea. This would help with traffic backed up because of the cumulative effect of low-functioning drivers ahead who keep touching the brakes for no good reason.
Quote from: Morris Minor on December 19, 2017, 05:09:48 AM
When we reach Total Autonomous, there won't be brake lights.
Actually, I think we'll have big strobes on everything. They might not be necessary anymore, but I'll bet they'll still be required.
Quote from: ifcar on December 19, 2017, 06:02:21 AM
I've thought it would sort of cool to have brake lights as a set of LEDs on which more and more of the little bulbs would turn on the harder the pedal is pressed.
Delphi had a truck that did that a number of years ago at he auto show, trying to sell that as a feature.
I guess it never took off.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on December 19, 2017, 09:27:52 AM
Actually, I think we'll have big strobes on everything. They might not be necessary anymore, but I'll bet they'll still be required.
Waste of energy. Future tech needs to reduce light usage.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on December 19, 2017, 10:05:37 AM
Waste of energy. Future tech needs to reduce light usage.
LEDs man. Not enough energy usage there to worry about.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on December 19, 2017, 10:06:46 AM
LEDs man. Not enough energy usage there to worry about.
I'd be interested in seeing how much energy would be saved if all cars could go dark at night thanks to autonomous driving. Per car it's a tiny amount of energy but across the country and world it could add up.
Star gazing while cruising along in the dark with a giant panoramic sunroof would be awesome.
Quote from: giant_mtb on December 19, 2017, 11:22:03 AM
Star gazing while cruising along in the dark with a giant panoramic sunroof would be awesome.
I've done that while driving through Wyoming. Road is so straight you don't need to look at it very often.
Quote from: giant_mtb on December 19, 2017, 11:22:03 AM
Star gazing while cruising along in the dark with a giant panoramic sunroof convertible would be awesome.
While playing this song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKjwSp94n8s
Quote from: CaminoRacer on December 19, 2017, 10:08:23 AM
I'd be interested in seeing how much energy would be saved if all cars could go dark at night thanks to autonomous driving. Per car it's a tiny amount of energy but across the country and world it could add up.
Even if they could, I don't think they would. People are going to be in those cars.
I don't think autonomous cars will run in the dark. Reflected visible light is still a valuable data source, to be combined with lidar and radar reflection data.
It's probably not necessary to drive the lights at 2000 lumens, though; CCDs are way more sensitive than human eyes and will only become more sensitive in the future.
Just put infrared dots on corners. In patterns to mark front vs. Rear.
Same technology Wii remotes use.
Technologically, it could be done.
I still think though that people will need to see where they're going- at least psychogically.
People will definitely need to see cars on the road in most cases.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on December 19, 2017, 04:30:49 PM
Technologically, it could be done.
I still think though that people will need to see where they're going- at least psychogically.
People will definitely need to see cars on the road in most cases.
An augmented reality HUD with false color renderings would be pretty fucking cool.
Quote from: ifcar on December 19, 2017, 06:02:21 AM
I've thought it would sort of cool to have brake lights as a set of LEDs on which more and more of the little bulbs would turn on the harder the pedal is pressed.
I had that thought about 10 years ago... Even did a patent search for it but it was already covered 17 ways from sunday
I think one of the premium Euro makes (BMW or Audi) has brake lights that light up brighter under hard braking than more gentle braking. And, obviously, many of them also have automatic 4-ways for full-on panic stop situations.
Quote from: Laconian on December 19, 2017, 05:17:52 PM
An augmented reality HUD with false color renderings would be pretty fucking cool.
Probably uses more power than lights, though. :lol:
Quote from: CaminoRacer on December 19, 2017, 06:23:32 PM
Probably uses more power than lights, though. :lol:
Dimming lights would be more interesting from a light pollution POV than power savings. In terms of absolute power consumption, lighting is a drop in the bucket compared to moving the car and keeping it heated/cooled.